Wang Lei staggered forward, each step heavier than the last. His throat was dry, lips cracked, and his body screamed for water. The endless stretch of desert under the burning sun was unforgiving. No food, no water—just the ache of exhaustion pulling him down. The system was silent, offering no guidance, and his mind felt clouded with fatigue.
Just when he thought he couldn't take another step, he saw it—a shimmering pond in the distance. Water. His heart raced, a surge of hope washing over him. He hurried toward it, but as he neared, his instincts kicked in.
This is too easy.
He stopped in his tracks, squinting at the pond. In the desert, nothing was safe, especially something as valuable as water. Creatures like the desert worms had to drink too, and they were likely lurking beneath the surface. His body trembled, knowing he couldn't afford to be careless.
Wang Lei crouched, picking up a stone from the ground. He hurled it toward the pond. The stone splashed into the water, and the surface rippled. For a moment, all was silent. Then, the ground rumbled beneath his feet.
Three monstrous desert worms burst from the sand, their massive bodies twisting as they emerged, their sharp, jagged teeth glistening in the sunlight.
Just great, he thought bitterly. He was barely standing, let alone fit for a fight, but without water, he knew he wouldn't survive much longer. He had no choice.
Wang Lei grabbed his knife, eyes narrowing as he calculated his next move. The worms circled the pond, and in a swift motion, he threw his knife at the closest one, hitting it squarely between its scales. The creature screeched, its body thrashing violently, but it wasn't enough to kill it. Before he could react, another worm lunged at him from the side. Wang Lei spun, kicking its body away with all the strength he had left.
The fight was brutal. Each attack from the worms felt like a storm. Wang Lei ducked, dodged, and slashed, but the creatures kept coming, relentless and fierce. His body ached, his movements slowing. He managed to wound one worm, but his energy was rapidly draining.
In a split second, Wang Lei realized the truth—he couldn't win this fight. His strength was fading too fast, and there were too many of them. Just as that thought crossed his mind, one of the worms lunged forward, sinking its sharp teeth into his leg.
Wang Lei screamed in pain, his vision blurring. His knife clattered to the ground, and he could feel the blood pouring from the wound. With a last burst of willpower, he grabbed his knife and stabbed the worm's head, forcing it to release him. The creature collapsed, but Wang Lei could barely stand. His breaths were ragged, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Just when he thought it was over, something inside him shifted.
A strange aura began to emanate from his body, pulsing like a heartbeat. His fatigue vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of energy. The system popped up in his mind, its voice calm and emotionless.
"Host has entered Self Condition mode. This rare state occurs when an individual taps into a massive amount of mana. Speed, power, and senses are heightened to extraordinary levels for a short period. Few possess this ability, and it activates when survival is at its most critical."
Wang Lei's eyes flashed with newfound strength. The pain was still there, but it was distant, like a memory. His body moved without hesitation, faster than he ever thought possible. One of the worms lunged at him, but this time, it was different.
In a blink, he stepped forward, his hand reaching for its head. His strength surged, and with a single motion, he crushed its skull beneath his foot. The worm didn't even have time to react before its life was snuffed out.
The second worm followed, and Wang Lei's knife flashed through the air, severing its body in half. He barely recognized his own movements—they were too fast, too powerful.
Within moments, the fight was over. Three massive worms lay dead at his feet, and Wang Lei stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving. But the moment the battle ended, his body finally gave in. He collapsed onto the sand, the adrenaline vanishing as quickly as it had come. Darkness swallowed him whole.
When Wang Lei woke, the first thing he felt was pain—his body was sore from head to toe. He groaned, slowly sitting up, his mind struggling to remember what had happened. The sand beneath him was stained with blood, but the bodies of the three worms were still there, lifeless.
I survived?
Before he could process everything, the system's familiar notification flashed in front of him.
"Congratulations. You have defeated three monsters stronger than yourself. You have earned two additional rewards: a recovery potion and a skill."
Wang Lei blinked, trying to make sense of it. A recovery potion materialized in front of him, and he quickly drank it, feeling the pain in his leg lessen as the healing took effect. His breathing steadied, and he finally felt like he could move again.
But it was the second reward that caught his attention.
"The skill you have received is called 'Silent Steps.' This skill increases your movement speed by four times in a short range. Like all skills, it has stages. Silent Steps is currently at the White stage but can evolve over time."
Wang Lei frowned, confusion crossing his face.
"Stages?" he muttered aloud.
The system responded, its tone as cold as ever.
"Yes. Skills in this world are categorized into five stages: White, Blue, Yellow, Red, and God. As a skill levels up, it evolves through these stages, becoming more powerful with each rank."
Wang Lei nodded slowly. That makes sense...
But the system wasn't done.
"However, Silent Steps is different. It is a Growing Skill."
Wang Lei's confusion deepened. "Growing Skill?"
"A Growing Skill is unique and extremely rare," the system explained. "It has infinite stages. It begins in the White stage, but with time and effort, it can surpass even God-tier skills. As the skill levels up, it can continue to evolve beyond what is known on Earth."
Wang Lei's eyes widened. "Infinite stages... Surpassing God-tier skills? And this kind of skill exists on Earth?"
"No," the system replied flatly. "Growing Skills are not available on Earth. Silent Steps is an anomaly. Its true potential will only be revealed as you continue to use it and level it up."
Wang Lei sat in stunned silence, his mind racing. A skill that could evolve infinitely, becoming stronger and faster with no limit? This was beyond anything he could've imagined. He clenched his fist, feeling a small flicker of hope.
"Silent Steps…" he whispered, a small smirk forming on his lips.
The trials were far from over, but now, Wang Lei was more prepared than ever.